September 23, 2013

The Label: Rosie AssoulinBased In: New York CityDesigned By: Rosie Assoulin. The 28-year-old Brooklyn native has always loved fashion—she began experimenting on her grandmother's sewing machine at age 13—and hopscotched from floral design to event planning to jewelry design (under the tutelage of her future mother-in-law, Lee Angel creative director, Roxanne Assoulin) before turning her talents to fashion. Having dropped out of FIT, the designer honed her skills through internships at Lee Angel, Oscar de la Renta, Brian Reyes and Lanvin. "We launched our collection with Resort 2014 this past June," said Assoulin. "It was centered around what my ideal wardrobe would be."Looks Like: Based in Tribeca and produced in New York's Garment District, Assoulin's resort outing is full of what she terms "evolved classic" silhouettes (think: relaxed drawstring waist jumpsuits, a trench back vest, low-slung palazzo pants atop a bell sleeved crop top, and architecturally draped cocktail frocks in bold, figure flattering stripes crafted from pure silk and luxurious cotton faille). Her début outing is, she said, "a blend of many aesthetics I've always been drawn to, including American sportswear, Fifties French couture and ethnic tribal wear with a healthy dose of menswear throughout." Indeed, it's the ladylike boyishness of Assoulin's designs—even the evening dresses feel refreshingly sportif—that sets her work apart. She's also adept at using big, graphic prints in unexpected ways, such as a pair of trousers that are white above the knee and black below, worn with a matching tie belt, or a strapless sheath with diagonally striped panels that meet in a flirty cascade at the hip. For spring 2014 (pictured below) she continued to evolve her signature menswear tailoring-meets-feminine volume by way of double-belted trousers with a cold-shoulder blouse, grommeted palazzo pants paired with a casual-cool polo, sari-sashed le smoking and a hand-painted striped gown with an adjustable zippered train. The designer also collaborated with her mother-in-law on a small range of semiprecious bags and jewelry for spring. "I am drawn to women who are strong, passionate, individualistic and confident," the designer said of her dream client. "She’s stylish, not trendy, but she’s got an adventurous spirit. It is for a woman who approaches dressing herself with a deep understanding of who she is—and has a healthy curiosity for the new and unchartered within herself and the world."Sold At: The Rosie Assoulin collection retails from $550 - $7,200 and is carried at Fivestory, Louis Boston, Forty Five Ten in Dallas, Capitol in Charlotte, The Webster Miami and online at Moda Operandi.

February 06, 2013

New York Fashion Week kicks off today, and TFI's been showered with hundreds of invitations to the fall 2013 shows. This season, there are a few distinct themes shaping up in the invite department. Here are my faves.

Bold graphics are the name of the game at Tome, 4 Corners of a Circle (printed on a square of felted canvas) and VPL by Victoria Bartlett, who's calling her fall outing "Disjoin + Rejoin." Designer Jen Kao offers a snippet of self-penned poetry on a jagged backdrop, while Nonoo and Rauwolf use old-school iconography (birds and vintage typography, respectively) in fresh, unexpected ways.

Lots of designers are paying homage to the natural world this season, whether it's a field of faded flowers at Lyn Devon, black and white silhouetted branches at ADEAM, lush 3-D blossoms at WHIT or the earthy-elegant knits of newbie Amanda Henderson.

Striking prints and patterns are splashed across the Fashion Week invites of Costello Tagliapietra, Haus Alkire, Tess Giberson and Libertine, whose colorful card depicts the label's fall mood board, including a shot of bruised and bloodied designer Johnson Hartig (a fitting metaphor for what it takes to make it in fashion these days).

Several invites showcase a clever use of materials: Honor serves up the deets on a piece of sheer, rubbery neon pink plastic. Moncler Grenoble's card opens to reveal the presentation's date, time, et al. printed backwards on the left side of the page, opposite a mirror that allows guests to read the type while doubling the size of the image. And Mathieu Mirano sent over a clear plastic petri dish with his name and show details emblazoned on the lid atop a base printed with what appears to be black and gold microbes—whether a joking nod to this season's global flu epidemic or a visual tribute to the seeds of creative germination, only the designer knows for sure.

And then there are those paeans to classic female archetypes, both old (Marie Antoinette and an African fertility goddess, courtesy Byron Lars) and, errr, new (a platinum-haired dominatrix clad in head-to-toe leather from gender-benders The Blonds).

As to whether these invitations reflect the mood of the collections themselves? Stay tuned…

OK, first things first: I am not a regular (or even semi-regular) reader of Monocle. Why? Because while I've found it to be a smart, well-designed magazine on the few occasions that I've perused it, the publication features an abudundance of pretentious articles printed in a teensy weensy typeface and, well, I've got better things to do with my time. Like watch my cat snooze. Or pick lint out of my bellybutton. Or see how many Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownies I can consume without barfing. I'm just kidding. I don't own a cat. But my ambivalence about Monocle the magazine hasn't prevented me from enjoying Monocle the candle, which I discovered when visiting their West Village outpost (because all magazines need to be retailers now, too, or haven't you heard?). I'm partial to Monocle Scented Candle One: Hinoki, which was developed by the good folks at Comme des Garcons, is packaged in a matte black glass container and smells like a rich, woodsy mix of moss and cedar and cypress and pine (or as the Monocle site puts it "a perfectly still, slightly chilly spring morning spent soaking in an indoor/outdoor tub at the Tawaraya in Kyoto") with hints of incense, thyme and vetiver. Yes, it's overpriced at $85. Yes, it's pretentious for a magazine to have a signature scent. And yes, their description of it prompts a wicked case of the retarded tingles. But I don't care. It smells divine and makes me swoon with delight every time I put match to wick. Subscription not required.

February 05, 2013

The Label:Gretchen JonesBased In: Brooklyn, New YorkDesigned By: Project Runway winner Gretchen Jones, who launched her namesake line in 2011. "Fashion chose me, really," the self-taught Colorado native told TFI when asked what originally drew her to the medium. "From the time I was old enough to dress myself, I did! I've always connected to dressing as the most relevant way of self-expression. The art of putting a look together felt as good to me as clay to a sculptor." As for the origin of the collection itself? "The idea behind my label was to create a brand that filled an aesthetic void in the market," said the designer. "I aim to marry vintage bohemian romanticism with modern urban minimalism."Looks Like: One part hippie, one part hipster quirk with a dash of sophistication. Each season, Jones chooses a piece of music and work of literature as the focal points of the collection. Spring 2013 pays homage to Joan Baez's Bob Dylan tribute album, Any Day Now, and Joan Didion's essay, "Where the Kissing Never Stops" from the book Slouching Towards Bethlehem. The resulting graphic print dresses, asymmetric floral tops, shiny shorts suits and floaty maxi skirts nod to her muses' SoCal Seventies roots while still feeling very much in keeping with the way today's fashion-forward free spirits like to dress.Sold At: The Gretchen Jones collection sells for $200 - $700 at Bird, Condor, Myrtle and online at Gretchen Jones.

January 29, 2013

The Label:Fleur du MalBased In: New York CityDesigned By: Jennifer Zuccarini, the social media loving co-founder of kinky-chic luxury lingerie line Kiki de Montparnasse and former design director of Victoria's Secret, who launched Fleur du Mal in late fall of last year as an online-only proposition. "We launched just five weeks ago," the Toronto-born, FIT-trained designer told TFI's Lauren David Peden just before the holidays. "I started working on the concept last year. The idea was to create a brand that evokes desire. When I discovered the name Fleur du Mal ("flower of evil"), it really represented a dichotomy I'm always drawn to—beauty with a bit of a dark side. The story behind Baudelaire is also very intriguing, we were using the theme "love hurts" for our campaign—a reference to his poetry. I see the brand as hopefully developing a culture and encompassing everything from music to art and design." To this end, many of the non-fashion items featured in the site's editorial images (from books and artwork to rugs and furniture) are also shoppable via the click of a mouse for a truly immersive online experience.Looks Like: Chic, strong, provocative and feminine, Fleur du Mal ranges from seductive underpinnings to sleekly sensual ready-to-wear (heavy on the leather, chiffon and peek-a-boo details), designed, says Zuccarini, for "women and the men who love them" (wink, wink). Spring 2013 was loosely inspired by the Seventies cult film, Death Race 2000, which showcased what the designer calls "crazy-sexy Seventies silhouettes, floral appliqués and women in helmets." The resulting collection blends all of the above (sexy bodysuits, satin tie-back panties, lacy balconette bras, leather-bodice dresses and chiffon panel t-shirts), sans the helmets. Zuccarini collaborated with the venerable Paris corset makers, Cadolle, for spring and has a few similar tricks up her sheery lacy sleeve for upcoming seasons.Sold At: Fleur du Mal ranges from $45 - $350 for lingerie and $195 - $2,500 for collection and is available exclusively at Fleur du Mal's website.

January 23, 2013

I've been partial to Moleskine notebooks since I began my career as a journalist more than two decades ago. But that changed the day I received a Working Class Studio journal from the good folks at shopSCAD. Created by artists from the Savannah College of Art and Design using soy ink on post-consumer waste recycled paper, these colorful lined notebooks are the perfect—and perfectly chic—companion, whether I'm interviewing designers, covering New York Fashion Week or jotting down notes for my Great American Novel (hey, a girl can dream, can't she?). They're about twice the size of the pocket Moleskine and feature a similar elastic band to keep them closed when tossed into the darkest recesses of my bag. But what I really love is that they cost just $10 bucks and boast a variety of graphic print covers, so I can change my notebook seasonally, as I do my wardrobe. And that's about as stylish as it gets.

January 22, 2013

The Label:ZuZu KimBased In: New York CityDesigned By: Christina "Zuzu" Kim, a self-taught classical pianist-turned-designer whose work is inspired by her passion for music. "The original idea came from designing dresses for my own piano performances and evolved into creating the ZuZu Kim brand," the designer said of her spring 2012 launch, dubbed "Concerto," which recast traditional musician's stage attire into ready-to-wear. "Fashion and music are so synonymous I don't think we can imagine one without the other." Kim, the well-traveled daughter of the former South Korean Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, studied fashion design and fiber at the School of Art Institute in Chicago and was head designer at Mary McFadden before stepping out on her own. The ZuZu Kim collection is aimed at a woman who is "fierce, independent, passionate and has a sense of humor," Kim tells TFI's Lauren David Peden. "She speaks to others without the need to speak—her inner joy and confidence speaks for her." That's certainly true of ZuZu Kim fan Olivia Culpo (aka, Miss Universe 2012, who also happens to be a talented cellist).Looks Like: Sophisticated and classic with a slight edge. Fall 2012 was inspired by the second movement of the designer's favorite Mozart piano concerto—No.20 in D minor, "Romanzo"—and resulted in elegant tuxedo blouses, hooded ponchos and conductor jackets offset with lyrical scallop and lace details. The spring 2013 collection, "Coloratura" was inspired by a bright, saturated, feminine color palette and complex yet seemingly simple techniques, as can be seen in the half-sleeve tuxedo, graphic print separates and pretty asymmetrical dresses. Kim, who still studies piano repertoire at Juilliard weekly, recently partnered with VH1 Save the Music—the non-profit organization whose mission is to restore instrumental education programs in schools nationwide—to co-sponsor her upcoming New York Fashion Week presentation.Sold At: The collection is available by special order online at ZuZu Kim.

January 16, 2013

The Queen of Clean is back! All Hail the Queen! That would be Jil Sander to you and me. After an eight year absence, the master of minimalism returned to her namesake label with the spring 2013 collection. But while the designer's other acolytes were busy swooning over her elegant dresses and color block sweaters, I was lusting after her two-tone leather boots with a sexy golden zipper that spirals around the leg from ankle to knee. They're a perfect complement to her spare silhouettes—and a perfect example of ebony and ivory, living in perfect harmony.

January 15, 2013

The Label:W118 by Walter BakerBased In: New YorkDesigned By: Walter Baker, who launched W118 in 2009 after the recession hit as a more affordable counterpart to his namesake collection. "W118 is a bit younger, more fun, definitely edgy," says the accountant-turned-designer. "It's a very print driven line that totally tells a story. Walter is a bit more refined, the beauty is in its simplicity." Looks Like: Fall 2012 had a Seventies/James Bond feel. "Our girl was tough and in charge," says Baker. Spring 2013 is all about fun in the sun, with bright colors and tons of artfully clashing textures and bold tropical prints. This season, says Baker, the W118 girl is "a jet setter, a force to be reckoned with!" With W118 (and the recent additions of bags and jewelry) she's got a wardrobe designed to take her seamlessly from desk to dinner—and beyond.Sold At: W118 by Walter Baker sells for $300 and under at Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, specialty stores nationwide and online at W118 by Walter Baker.

January 09, 2013

Really, what's not to like about Dallas Clayton's whimsically upbeat drawings? His cheerful, idiosyncratic creatures hop, skip and jump across the page (or computer screen), urging the viewer to Be Yourself, Make Magic, and Have Fun! Clayton's own story—he wrote a children's book called An Awesome Book!, after the birth of his son, self-published after being turned down by several major publishing houses and became an instant hit—is equally inspiring (as are his illustrated poems). He's now got a devoted international following and a three-book deal with HarperCollins, offering living proof to kids of all ages that if you work hard and believe in yourself, dreams really can come true. Which is, in a word, awesome!

January 08, 2013

The Label: Laura Siegel CollectionBased In: New York City and TorontoDesigned By: Laura Siegel, a Toronto native who studied at Parsons and London's Central Saint Martins before launching her socially conscious collection (made by artisans in India, Peru and Bolivia) in spring 2012. "A lot of the experiences that shape who I am as a designer come from my encounters and collaborations with artisans I would meet in my travels," says Siegel, who divides her time between New York and Canada and spent her gap year backpacking around the world. "Connecting with people is one of my favorite things in life. It's why I love going overseas to work in person with each artisan. Fashion is the best way to connect with other humans by going beyond my own creative expression and creating pieces that are a true reflection of my customer's personality—giving her a vehicle to express her inner self."Looks Like: Eco-chic for 21st century Mad Max-inas (or, as Siegel puts it, "a global-minded, cultured woman that is very comfortable in her own skin"). Relaxed, layered and highly textured, the fall 2012 collection, dubbed Dream Resurrected, came about, says the designer, "from a quest to create new dreams after mourning the loss off the old. It references cave, rock and soil imagery and landscapes through ancient hand-dying techniques, knitwear, embroidery and washed leather." Spring 2013 was inspired by life blooming in the desert (think: cacti patterns, lightweight knits and dusty, sun-bleached colors). "The idea is to combine all my passions together into a life-long project that would provide women with clothing that fuses comfort, beautiful textures and versatility, while sustaining cultures and crafts across the globe." Sold At: The Laura Siegel collection retails from $150 to $1,500 and is sold at Oak, End of Century, Curve and online at ShopLatitude and ILWYW (I Like What You're Wearing).

December 19, 2012

As the days get shorter and the holidays draw nigh, I love the idea of adorning myself with something a little more fanciful, festive and sparkly than my usual go-to silver or charms. Enter Lavish by Tricia Milaneze. Made in Brazil, these limited edition necklaces feature hand-crocheted 18k gold filled wire threaded with bold, colorful stones and glittering glass beads to wonderful 3-D effect. I'm particularly partial to the turquoise choker-cum-breastplate with Good 'N Plenty-shaped beads, which does, indeed, look good enough to eat. Lavish, to be sure—and just the thing to stave off the winter doldrums while making a showstopping style statement.

December 18, 2012

The Label:Sheila Johnson CollectionBased In: New YorkDesigned By: Movie producer/philanthropist/hotelier Sheila Johnson, who has transformed her passion for landscape photography into a just-launched collection of digital print luxury scarves. "I have been holding onto photographs that I have taken over the years—photographs that mean a lot to me and remind me of the journey that I have been on," says Johnson, who was a founding partner of BET (Black Entertainment Television) and recently honored as one of Donna Karan's Women Who Inspire. "I think of photography as my canvas for rediscovery and inspiration; when I’m behind the lens, I can express myself, not just personally but to the world. It’s been thrilling to share my passion for nature and my philanthropic work by translating what I see and feel into luxurious, wearable art.”Looks Like: The scarves are produced on an old-fashioned wooden loom outside of Florence, Italy and feature Johnson's rich, color-saturated nature shots—bright fall foliage, a tranquil snowfall, flowers in bloom, the sunburst-like inside of an orange—printed on super-soft, beautifully draped modal that's hand cut and fringed then given evocative names such as Solace, Joy! and Etude. "In choosing which photographs to use for the scarves, I look for images that tell a story and capture an intimate moment in time," adds Johnson. "Wrapping yourself in one of my scarves should feel like wrapping yourself in a beautiful embrace.”Sold At: Sheila Johnson scarves retail for $475 on her website. A portion of proceeds are donated to the Lady Salamanders, the first national all-women's Street Soccer USA team, which aims to end homelessness through sports.

December 12, 2012

I loves me a good chunky ankle boot. Flat combat-inspired boots are good. But a leg-elongating wedge is ever better. Enter the Pedro Garcia Faina. Crafted from rugged black suede offset with a smooth elastic panel, these "armored" pull-on booties have a lightly padded insole and wrap seductively around the ankle for that all-important fawn-in-the-forest effect that makes your legs look like delicate stems perched atop clunky hooves. (Trust me. It's a good thing.) I like to wear mine with rolled up jeans or cropped trousers, but if you've got the gams for it, they look equally cool with tights and a mini. Best of all, they're now on sale for $375 (down from $625). So go ahead. Treat yo'self.

December 11, 2012

The Label:Robert Lee MorrisBased In: Soho, New YorkDesigned By: Robert Lee Morris. The renowned jeweler launched his original namesake line in 1970 when he was living on a commune in the cornfields of southern Wisconsin (yes, really). "I taught myself how to make jewelry based on my gut instinct of what was going to be classic, timeless, and reflect who I am and what I wanted to say as an artist," Morris tells The Fashion Informer. "This is a very different approach from how people today start businesses, as I had no plan, no idea what was in the marketplace, or even what the market for my style of jewelry was. I was just making jewelry as a sort of temporary activity that was in keeping with the theme of the commune, which was that we all chose to make crafts of some sort." Finding a very receptive audience for his highly unique creations (made with materials sourced at the local hardware store), Morris then relocated to NYC and helped pioneer the wearable art movement of the late Seventies and Eighties with his seminal Soho store/gallery, Artwear, which featured his jewelry alongside that of fellow artisans Cara Croninger and Ted Muehling. He also worked closely on collaborations with designers such as Geoffrey Beene, Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein (earning himself a Coty Award in 1981) and began a decades-long collaboration with Donna Karan, who used RLM jewelry in 36 runway shows. He won two CFDA Awards for accessory design, was given the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 and collaborated with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on jewelry for the Elizabeth and James collection in 2008, which introduced his ouevre to a whole new audience.Looks Like: A continuation of the iconic, multicultural RLM look, his newly relaunched collection, Robert Lee Morris 2.0 (as I like to think of it), features bold forms, earthy colors and a lower, contemporary price point. "Ever since I started working with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen a few years ago, my designs became a huge hit with a very young crowd of Hollywood starlets, who then influenced a younger audience," explains Morris of his revamped collection, which is produced by Haskell Jewels and debuted this season. "Traditionally, my work as been endorsed by the readers of mainstream fashion magazines, and has appealed to the chic working woman who is looking to me for fabulous daywear." For fall 2012, RLM's fabulous daywear includes bold gold collars, statement-making silver cuffs and his signature knuckle rings, all fashioned from plated brass to keep things affordable. Spring 2013 sees the addition of shell, horn and bone pieces, along with cast metals given a black, turquoise and green patina. "As a very serious artist, the most important goal for me has always been to create work that reflects my soul, my worldview, my inner self," says the self-described, German-born "Army brat," who lived in Japan and Rio de Janeiro before studying art and filmmaking at Beloit College in Wisconsin. "While I love all other art forms, and feel very comfortable with my abilities in drawing, sculpture, filmmaking, etcetera, I realized that jewelry somehow was more challenging to turn into a true art form, and I wanted to be a pioneer. As I move further and further away from the concept of fine jewelry, I want to make jewelry that breaks new ground every season." And that, dear reader, is exactly what he does.Sold At: Robert Lee Morris retails from $150 to $1,200 at Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Bloomingdale's , Kirna Zabete, the Robert Lee Morris flagship store in Soho and at boutiques nationwide.

December 05, 2012

There are days when you want to show off what your mama gave you, and there are days when you're feeling a bit more discreet. Eileen Fisher's Notch Box-Top is for the latter—but it's as chic as it is comfy. Generously cut with a hemline that's shorter in front and longer in back, this sweater is fashioned from soft merino jersey and features a flattering wide scoop neckline with fine rib trim at the sleeves and hem. You can dress it up with a pencil skirt or slim trousers for work, dress it down with beat-up boyfriend jeans on the weekend or—my favorite way to go—pair it with black leather pants and piled on jewelry for a rock and roll vibe. It comes in six pretty colors, from fire engine red to Aegean blue, and retails for $198. And if you're feeling especially flush, there's a cashmere version, as well. Say hello to your new best friend.

December 04, 2012

The Label:Alex Kramer Based In: New York CityDesigned By: Alex Kramer, who studied literature at Georgetown, was the photo editor at The Source, head of visuals at Luxuryfinder.com and designed Carlos Miele's diffusion line before launching her namesake collection in 2011. "I have been fortunate enough to have a background in which I was able to try various forms of creative expression," Kramer tells TFI of her circuitous route to the pattern table. "I set out to design a wardrobe for strong women on the move. I prefer taste to trend and luxe over lavish, and create garments that women will have for years to come."Looks Like: Architectural and refined, the Alex Kramer collection is full of tailored pieces for the urbane woman, with a strong emphasis on body con dresses and long, lean pants. "Our clothing is designed for the well-lived—but not idle—life," says Kramer. "I aim to produce a versatile collection that embodies timeless elegance. There is definitely a classic element and a dedication to fine finishing, luxury fabrics and great fit." Fall 2012 was inspired by the sculptural curves of architect Oscar Niemeyer and is, says the designer, "equal parts Blade Runner and Belle de Jour." For spring 2013, she continued the theme with Basic Instinct-inspired pieces that evoke a more youthful elegance. "The market is full of trendy, lower priced casual wear and elevated, expensive occasional wear but often lacks the in-between: clothing suitable for a sophisticated, urban woman that wants to dress with ease and polish, morning to evening." AK to the rescue!Sold At: The Alex Kramer collection ranges from $300 to $3,000 and is sold at Intermix boutiques, Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and online at Shopbop.

November 28, 2012

When it comes to style, I'm all about personalizing one's look. And few things are more personal than jewelry—especially when you make it yourself. Take, for instance, my signature charm necklaces. All of the chains and many of the talismans come from L'Art de la Rue by M'hamed Kherroubi, a wonderfully talented Algerian designer who has set up shop on a table in front of the Apple store on Ninth Avenue and 14th Street in the Meatpacking District. M'hamed casts his own pieces and travels the world looking for old medals, coins and vintage charms, which he pairs in artful combinations on handmade, one-of-kind chains (some of which are also festooned with colorful stones and beads). To these I add bits and bobs picked up from my own travels—be it a cameo from Savannah, an elephant from India, a shell from Montauk or a tiny black wing from my friend Shelly Steffee's former shop—for truly individual pendants that remind me of my journeys and the people I love every time I wear them, which is pretty much every day. It's less DIY than DI-VINE. Just ask Emma Watson, who's also a L'Art de la Rue fan. If you can't get to M'hamed's MPD outpost, you can also find his wares at Eye Candy in Chelsea and Byoutique in North Baldwin, NY, or online at Facebook. Tell him The Fashion Informer sent you—and make it your own!

November 27, 2012

The Label:Lauren Craft CollectionBased In: Houston, TexasDesigned By: Lauren Craft, who studied at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and cut her teeth at Alexis Bittar before moving back to Texas to launch her namesake collection of bold, edgy baubles in 2011. "The idea behind my line was to create functional pieces of art," Craft tells TFI. "Wear my pieces day or night, they'll fit in any atmosphere and be noticed."Looks Like: Describing her aesthetic as "everyday glamour," Craft takes iconic shapes, materials and motifs (bangles, crosses, skulls, stars, moons, pearls and diamonds) and re-imagines them in ways that feel both fresh and familiar (emphasis on the fresh). Neat trick, that. Her fall 2012 inspiration stemmed from a trip to Europe and features dark, romantic pieces fashioned from rutilated quartz and druzy (heavy on the skulls), while spring 2013 incorporates colors from India, softened to be more wearable, with an emphasis on baroque pearls, coral, light sapphires and moonstones—all finished with the designer's signature champagne diamonds. "My whole life I have loved jewelry," she says. "I can't think of anything else that would inspire me more than designing this collection." It shows. Next up, she plans to introduce a line of bejeweled clutches. As for her ideal customer, says Craft: "She can be the fabulous twentysomething or the iconic sixtysomething. My pieces work for every woman who has the right sensibility and attitude."Sold At: The Lauren Craft collection retails for $3,000 to $12,000 at boutiques nationwide including Switch, Coquette, Allison by the Beach, Lissa Fine Jewelry, Elinoff Gallery,Sloan/Hall, Eliza Page and Boom & Mellow in Dubai, or online at Lauren Craft Collection.

November 21, 2012

As readers of this blog already know, I have a soft spot for illustration. Especially the whimsically chic illustrations of Lana Frankel, a former Vogue colleague who left her graphic design gig and relocated to the more relaxed environs of Colorado (after a brief stop in San Francisco) to focus on her art. In addition to her signature fashion illustrations, event invites and personalized portraits (human, pet and otherwise), Lana also has a line of happy-making holiday cards and gift tags,which, in true fashionista form, can be purchased off the rack or customized for a truly one-of-a-kind holiday statement. Joyeux Noel, indeed.